Review: Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev- Eisley Jacobs

Review: Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev

On Mar.22.10 , In Reviews by Eisley Jacobs

NO SPOILER REVIEW: ONE OF A KIND theater book
Book Two of Théâtre Illuminata – Perchance to Dream
By Lisa Mantchev

Available for advance purchase, Release date:May 25th

From back of book: Growing up in the enchanted Théâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned all about every play ever written, but she didn’t know that she, too had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and and is determined to follow her stars. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the walls of the Théâtre, they don’t go as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between Nate, her suave pirate, and Ariel, a seductive air spirit.

When Nate is taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him, and she and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?

My ARC Review: In the first book, Eyes Like Stars, I was effervescently pulling for Nate and quite upset when Ariel was weaseling his way into Bertie’s life. The way it was written, no one should be okay with how Ariel was conning and seducing, let alone Bertie. But we accepted it.

Now in Perchance to Dream I find myself annoyed all over again on this topic. I find Bertie keeps making choices that are not following the likely-hood of her character regarding Nate and Ariel. Without giving anything away, it was such an annoyance to me I might have to take off a half star. However her other characters are well rounded, so I still think she succeeded in making believable characters. I just wish Bertie had made better decisions.

I found Perchance to Dream a little more confusing then Eyes Like Stars. Bertie is introduced to a lot of new characters and she accepts their strange ways quickly, lending to the question of her actions again.

The faeries were just as funny as the first book, giving us great comic relief. The way Lisa weaves words is wonderful, specially if you like Shakespeare and the theater.

The first third of the book was slow which makes me take a star off for pace. But it picks up again and flows well through the rest of the book.

You don’t have to have read Eyes Like Stars in order to enjoy the theater of Perchance to Dream. Which is nice for people who aren’t keen on having to read book one to get book two.

I wish I could give it more then 3.5 stars. But I just struggled with the first third of the book and Bertie’s choices… so I had to take off for that. STILL an ONE OF A KIND theater book though… Definitely not one to miss if you adore theater.